Abstract

The Thirty-Six Heavens is one of the most essential concepts among the structural theories pertaining to the heavenly realm in Daoism. This theory, which emerged during the Eastern Jin period, did not originate from the Code of the Great Perfection (太眞科), the scripture of Celestial Master Daoism (天師道) in the Liu-Song (劉宋) period. During the process of establishing the ‘Thirty-Six Heavens,’ Daoism was influenced by the Buddhist view of the heavenly realm and incorporated the Chinese traditional cosmic theory of the interdependence of the Dao and Qi (道一氣). In addition, the theory of the Thirty-Six Heavens is also based on the Thirty-Six Heavens (三十六天) theory found in the Lingbao Scripture (靈寶經). Simultaneously, it integrates various elements, such as the numbers in the Five Directions of the Na Yin (納音) system (corresponding sound), the three qi of ‘Xuan (玄), Yuan (元), and Shi (始),’ the Heaven (Realm, 境) of Three Purity (三淸天), the Ninth Heaven (九天), the Thirty-Six Heavens, and the celestial number (天數) ‘twelve (十二)’ from the scriptures of the Supreme Purity lineage (上淸經). These elements began to develop during the Eastern Jin-Northern and Southern Dynasty period, but a complete theoretical framework has not been established yet. Henceforth, the issues were settled in the early Tang Dynasty regarding the relationship among the developmental theory of the Four Heavens of the Seed-People (四種民天), the Heaven of Three Purity, and the Thirty-Two Heavens (三十二天). Accordingly, the structure of Great Canopy Heaven (大羅天), the Heaven of Three Purity, the Heaven of the Seed-People (種民天), and the Heaven of the Three Realms (三界天) was completed. However, the theory has undoubtedly been revised and expanded over time. This theory of Thirty-Six Heavens has resulted from the accumulation of various accomplishments, embedding multiple meanings. A number of subjective interpretations were added to it. Furthermore, the divinity of the Jade Emperor (玉皇) was included during the Song-Yuan period. In other words, the theory of Thirty-Six Heavens is a collective term for the theory of heavenly realm (天界理論) based on the theme of heaven.